Tool for removing caulking



Nov. 12, 1963 W. J. ASKEW, SR

TOOL FOR REMOVING CAULKING Filed 001;. 25, 1961 INVENTOR. W/W/bm J. As/ren; Sn

United States Patent 3,110,054 TGGL FOR REMOVING CAULKHNG William J. Askew, Sr., 4232 58th St, Sacramento, Calif. Filed Oct. 25, 1961, Ser. No. 147,634 4 Claims. (Cl. 15-236) This invention relates to a tool for removing caulking and more particularly to a tool for removing caulking very rapidly.

In the past, it has been the practice to remove caulking material with a hammer and chisel. As is well known to those doing such type of work, this is very laborious and time consuming. There is, therefore, a need for a new and improved tool which will facilitate the removal of caulking.

In general, it is an object of the present invention to provide a tool for removing caulking material which overcomes the above named disadvantages.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tool of the above character which can be operated or used by one man.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tool of the above character which is relatively simple and which is easy to use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tool of the above character which can be economically manufactured.

Anb ther object of the invention is to provide a tool of the above character in which the blade can be readily replaced.

Additional objects and features of the invention will appear from the following description in which the preferred embodiment is set forth in detail in conjunction with the following drawings.

Referring to the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a tool for removing caulking incorporating my invention.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the tool shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view showing the tool and its use for removing caulking.

In general, my tool for removing caulking from an elongate recess formed between spaced portions of a building wall consists of a blade which is adapted to enter the recess in the wall. An elongate handle adapted to be grasped by both hands is provided. Means is also provided for mounting the blade in the handle so that the longitudinal axis 'of the blade is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the handle. A pair of rollers are rotatably mounted on opposite sides of the handle adjacent the blade and have their axes of rotation substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the handle. The rollers have such a diameter and are spaced so that they are adapted to engage the portions of the wall adjacent the recess so that as the blade passes along the recess, the rollers travel along the Wall and serve as a fulcrum for the handle and the blade carried thereby whereby the operator can readily vary the depth of penetration of the blade in the recess by pivoting the blade about the fulcrum provided by the rollers.

As shown in the drawings, my tool for removing caulking consists of a blade 11 which has a particular configuration. It is formed with an upper straight edge 12, and an inclined straight forward edge 13 which joins the edge 12 to provide a sharp point 14 at the intersection between the edges. The blade is also provided with a lower edge 15 which is parallel to the upper edge '12 and a rear edge 16 which is perpendicular to the edges 12 and 15. The blade can be formed of any suitable material such as hardened steel. It also can have any "ice suitablewidth but preferably is relatively narrow as is shown in FIGURE 1 of the drawings. The blade should have a width which is substantially less than the width of the recess into which it enters to remove caulking as hereinafter described.

My caulking tool also includes an elongate handle 17 which is preferably cylindrical as shown and which is formed of any suitable material such as a piece of pipe as shown. When pipe is utilized, the upper end is swaged to provide a rounded outer end 18. The other end of the pipe is provided with a flattened extension 19.

Means is provided for mounting the blade 11 in the extension 19. The extension 19 is provided with an elongate open-ended recess 21 which is adapted to receive the blade 11. The blade 11 is removably mounted in the recess on a threaded rod 22 which extends through the xtension 19 and through the blade as shown particularly in FIGURE 2. A fixed pin 23 is mounted Within the extension 1? adjacent the inner end thereof. The blade is provided with an open-ended slot 24 which is adapted to slide over the pin 23 as shown particularly in FIGURE 2.

Means is provided for forming a fulcrum for the handle 17 and the blade 11 carried thereby and consists of a pair of rollers 26 which can be formed of any suitable material such as steel or plastic. The rollers shown in the drawing are formed of steel and are mounted upon the outer races of ball bearing assemblies 27, whereas the inner races of the ball bearing assemblies are mounted upon the rod 22. Spacers 2.9 are provided between the extension 19 and the roller bearing assemblies 27 to space the rollers 26 a predetermined distance from the ixtension 19'. The rollers 26 are held in place by nuts 31 threaded onto the end of the rod 22. It will be noted that the rollers are mounted on an axis which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the handle 17 and the blade 11.

Operation and use of my tool for removing caulking may now be briefly described as follows. As is well known to those skilled in the building construction business, buildings are often erected in which there are recesses between spaced portions of the building which normally must be filled to Weather-proof the building. Thus, it is the conventional practice to till the recess with a tar felt and then to place a caulking compound over the tar felt. For example, in tilt-up type construction used at the present time, such recesses are present between the erected sections. Also, in various types of buildings utilizing iblocks such as blocks which are 5 ft. x 6 ft. square, there are recesses provided between the blocks which must be filled and caulked.

After a number of years, the caulking material cracks, or leaks begin to occur which necessitates the removal of the caulking material and replacing it with new caulking compound. As explained previously, this caulking has been previously removed laboriously by hand with the use of a hammer and chisel. Now utilizing my caulking tool as hereinbefore described, it is merely necessary to grab the elongate handle with the right and left hands as shown particularly in FIGURE 3 of the drawings and then insert the point 14- into the caulking material to break the caulking material. The blade 11 is then advanced so that the point reaches the tar felt below the caulking. The handle is then positioned to move the rollers 26 into engagement with the adjacent margins of the wall 35 and then retaining the handle 17 in this angular position so as to position the blade 14 adjacent the tar felt. Then urging the tool along the recess 36, the caulking is removed by urging it upwardly out of the recess 36 as the upper edge 12 engages the lower surface of the caulking.

By utilizing my tool in this method of operation, it

is possible to remove large strips of caulking material in a very short period of time. Also, the tool is of sufficient size and strength so that the caulking material can be removed with relatively little efiiort. Since the blade and the relatively long handle 17 are formed of steel, the tool has substantial weight so that consider-able forces can be applied during removal of the caulking material with relative ease. This is true because of the relatively long lever arm provided by the handle 17 and also in view of the fact that the fulcrum for the blade 11 is relatively close to the blade.

It will be noted that the rollers as have a diameter such that they extend below the blade 11. This makes it possible for the rollers 26 to readily engage the side margins of the wall. Although the tool is shown used in a vertical position in FIGURE 3, it can be utilized just as easily for removing caulking from horizontal recesses.

I have found that an angle on the order of between 20 to 30 between the edges 12 and 13 Works very satisfactorily because with the arrangement shown, it makes it possible for the surface 13 to ride in a position which is substantially parallel to the tar felt in the recess during the time the caulking is being removed.

The blade is secured to the handle in such a manner that it can be readily removed and replaced or sharpened whenever desired.

It is apparent from the foregoing that I have provided a new and improved tool which is particularly adapted for removing caulking. It is relatively economical to manufacture. It is also relatively sturdy so that it cannot be easily damaged by the workmen.

I claim:

l. A tool for removing caulking from an elongate recess formed by spaced portions of a buildingwall, a blade having a first portion of gradually narrowing breadth terminating in a point and adapted to enter the recess in the wall and a second portion broader than said first portion for mounting said blade, an elongate handle adapted to be :grapsed by both hands of the operator, means for mounting the second portion of the blade in the handle so that the longitudinal axis of the bladeis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the handle, a pair of rollers rotatably mounted on opposite sides of the handle adjacent the second portion 45 of the blade and having their axis of rotation extending through said second portion substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the handle, said rollers having a diameter which is greater than the breadth of the second portion, and operatively less than the spacing between said point and said axis of rotation, said rollers being positioned whereby they are adapted to engage the side margins of the wall adjacent the recess whereby the handle and the blade carried thereby can be pivoted about the axes of the rollers to thereby adjust the depth of penetration of the blade into the recess as the tool is moved longitudinally of the recess to remove the caulking from the recess.

2. In a tool for removing caulking material from an elongate recess formed by spaced portions of fa building wall, a blade adapted to enter the recess in the Wall, the blade being substantially narrower than the recess, an elongate handle adapted to be grasped by both ends, the handle having a length substantially greater than the length of the blade, the handle having a slot formed therein, the blade being mounted in the slot, a rod extending through the handle and through the blade, a fixed pin mounted in the handle adjacent the inner end of the recess in the handle, said blade having a slot therein seated over said fixed pin, a pair of rollers rotatably mounted on said rod, said rod extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the handle, said rollers being positioned so that they are adapted to engage the side portions of the wall adjacent the recess so that the handle and the blade may be pivoted about the same to thereby adjust the depth of penetration of the blade into the recess and to maintain the same depth of penetration as the tool is moved longitudinally of the recess.

3. A tool as in claim 2 wherein said rollers are removable and said rod is removable to facilitate the replacement of the blade.

4. A tool as in claim 2 wherein said blade is provided with an upper straight edge substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the handle and an inclined forward edge joining the top straight edge to provide a point at the intersection of the top and inclined edges.

References Cited in the file of this patent FOREIGN PATENTS 89,150 Norway Apr. 29, 1957 

1. A TOOL FOR REMOVING CAULKING FROM AN ELONGATE RECESS FORMED BY SPACED PORTIONS OF A BUILDING WALL, A BLADE HAVING A FIRST PORTION OF GRADUALLY NARROWING BREADTH TERMINATING IN A POINT AND ADAPTED TO ENTER THE RECESS IN THE WALL AND A SECOND PORTION BROADER THAN SAID FIRST PORTION FOR MOUNTING SAID BLADE, AN ELONGATE HANDLE ADAPTED TO BE GRASPED BY BOTH HANDS OF THE OPERATOR, MEANS FOR MOUNTING THE SECOND PORTION OF THE BLADE IN THE HANDLE SO THAT THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF THE BLADE IS SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF THE HANDLE, A PAIR OF ROLLERS ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE HANDLE ADJACENT THE SECOND PORTION OF THE BLADE AND HAVING THEIR AXIS OF ROTATION EXTENDING THROUGH SAID SECOND PORTION SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR TO THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF THE HANDLE, SAID ROLLERS HAVING A DIAMETER WHICH IS GREATER THAN THE BREADTH OF THE SECOND PORTION, AND OPERATIVELY LESS THAN THE SPACING BETWEEN SAID POINT AND SAID AXIS OF ROTATION, SAID ROLLERS BEING POSITIONED WHEREBY THEY ARE ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE SIDE MARGINS OF THE WALL ADJACENT THE RECESS WHEREBY THE HANDLE AND THE BLADE CARRIED THEREBY CAN BE PIVOTED ABOUT THE AXES OF THE ROLLERS TO THEREBY ADJUST THE DEPTH OF PENETRATION OF THE BLADE INTO THE RECESS AS THE TOOL IS MOVED LONGITUDINALLY OF THE RECESS TO REMOVE THE CAULKING FROM THE RECESS. 